Stop procrastinating... but how? We’ve all been there before…that moment you realize it’s Sunday night, and you have papers and tests, and you wonder why you waited until the last minute to start preparing for any of it….Well, don’t fear, here at ProSky, we know and understand exactly how you feel and we’re here to help!

Here are: 5 Ways to Help YOU Stop Procrastinating

1. Stop and Think

How long is the task you are trying to accomplish? Is it folding the laundry or reading that one chapter for class? If the task is short, DO IT NOW! Because odds are, if you don’t do it now, you might forget about it OR hate yourself for not doing it earlier. Check out these tips and strategies for how to beat procrastination in 2 minutes or less.

2. Plan

Although making a to-do list seems self-explanatory and like it would obviously help, they’re not always as helpful as you think. In order to make them really count, try these simple tricks! Break your goals down into simple, and easily completed tasks. For instance, don’t write “Finish Essay.” Instead, write “Finish Intro Paragraph”.

The thought of just writing your intro will seem much more doable, and odds are if you start that paragraph you might be likely to continue writing! Another tip is to not make your to-do list an essay. You should try and focus on 3-5 of your biggest tasks to jot down. Maybe you need to send an email, go grocery shopping, or finish your math homework. Those three items are feasible and totally within your power to complete! On the other hand, if you look at your list and it has 57 items, you might feel defeated, and not even try.

Everyone likes being able to cross chores or errands off their to-do list, so make it easier for yourself and make the list shorter! You’ll feel more accomplished and maybe even motivated to get more done.

3. Minimize Distractors

We’ve all been the victim of Netflix…it lures you in and once you press play, there’s no going back. So tip #1 here would be, don’t even go there. If you’re thinking “But I can totally multitask,” you’re just lying to yourself. Yes, in some instances, like making your bed, you could watch an episode of Friends.

However, if you need to study for that Midterm in Organic Chemistry, Rachel and Ross probably aren’t going help all that much. Similar to Netflix, are our other enemies…smartphones. Just one tap into Instagram and all of a sudden 20 minutes have been wasted (debatably) searching through pictures of grilled cheeses…But if you need to, finish those tasks on your to-do list, check out these awesome apps, designed to help minimize your distractions! Self Control is an app that allows you to ‘block out’ an app, such as Facebook or Twitter, for a certain amount of time. Need to finish that final paper? Block out all social media and even texting for 3 hours! Boom…Essay done! Focus Booster is an app that helps you…..you guessed it—focus!

You can make a to-do list and the app tracks you as you complete it! More exciting though is that for every 25 minutes you work, you get a 5-minute break! That way the task you do for 25 minutes gets (hopefully) all your attention and you won’t be overworking yourself! Need more app suggestions? More strategies for improving your productivity? read here!

4. Dress to Impress

You know when you wake up on a Sunday morning, roll out of bed with your pjs on, and start trying to get all your work done? Well, an easy (and maybe annoying, depending on your choice of clothes) option to be more productive is to actually dress up to get your work done! Tuxedos aren’t necessary, but put some pants on, brush your hair, and act as if you were going into public. Although pajamas sound (and are) more comfortable, they may not be the best option! Imagine sitting on your bed, trying to write a paper…you’re more likely to succumb to that nap, Netflix, or just plain unproductivity when you’re already in those comfy clothes. Putting on normal clothes will help boost your energy and make you feel like getting things done.

5. Last but not least, take care of your body!

DON’T over do it! If you know that you have a lot to get done in one weekend, or even one day, make sure you aren’t forgetting about your health. Don’t work for 5 hours straight, without drinking some water and taking a break here and there. If you have the time, take a nap! It can work miracles for your mental health, give you more energy, and focus.

Also, check our ProSky’s online training programs (like social media marketing) that productively suggest and schedule out your course day by day.If you have other ideas about avoiding procrastination, let us know and leave a comment!